Rocking With Jam Man talks with Malcom Bruce son of Cream singer Jack Bruce
Rocking With Jam Man talks with Malcom Bruce son of Cream singer Jack Bruce, and we talk about his new project Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream and what made him want to do it, the possibility of doing a song with his dad via AI, touring as Cream with Ginger Bakers son, how classic rock bands do not need the original members to tour as long as done right and what is next for him, and we talk about his new project Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream and what made him want to do it, the possibility of doing a song with his dad via AI, touring as Cream with Ginger Bakers son, how classic rock bands do not need the original members to tour as long as done right and what is next for him
Quarto Valley Records proudly announces the new album “Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream.” The album takes us on a magical journey — traveling the brief course of the iconic band’s musical life — back to the raw, stripped-down magic of the creativity of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and Pete Brown. Passionately produced and mixed by Rob Cass, the new album will be released via Quarto Valley Records on November 3rd on vinyl, CD and digitally on all platforms.
The project honors CREAM’s legacy with a 15-track tribute album and features Pete Brown and Ginger Baker plus an impressive roster of renowned musicians who knew, or were inspired by the iconic supergroup including Joe Bonamassa, Deborah Bonham, Malcolm Bruce, Peter Bullick, Nathan James, Bernie Marsden, Maggie Bell, Rob Cass, Clem Clempson, Paul Rodgers and Bobby Rush.
There were also invaluable musical contributions from Cheryl Alleyne, Winston Blissett, Moreno Buttinar, Abass Dodoo, John Donaldson, Pee Wee Ellis, Mo Foster, Neil Murray, Mo Nazam, Tony Remy, and Frank Tontoh.
While recording this tribute album, Pete Brown shared, “It took me a long time before I would attempt those songs. I grew up in Jack’s shadow, like Malcolm did as well, you know. I’m not trying to be Jack. No one will ever be Jack.” He added, “Eventually I felt, well, they’re my songs as well and eventually, I grew into those songs that Jack and I wrote.”
The first single off the album, “Sunshine of Your Love,” was released on September 1 and features Ginger Baker on drums, Joe Bonamassa on vocals and guitar, Malcom Bruce on piano and the late Bernie Marsden on vocals and guitar, with Neil Murray on bass and Abass Dodoo on percussion.
This iconic song, co-written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown was included on Cream’s best-selling second album Disraeli Gears in November 1967 and became one of Cream’s fan favorites.
With elements of hard rock and psychedelia, Cream bassist Bruce developed a distinctive riff for the tune which became his signature bass riff.
An edited version of the song was released in the U.S. that December and became the band’s first and highest charting American single. It entered Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart in January 1968, reaching number 36. To this day, the song remains one of the band’s most endearing tunes. It was later named to Rolling Stone’s 500 “Greatest Songs of All Time,” ranking number 65. The endurance of “Sunshine of Your Love” makes it a fitting first taste of the new album and the magic of Cream and their music. Now available to stream on all platforms. Stream here.
“Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream” was recorded at Sensible Music and the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. Years in the making, Quarto Valley Records’ executive Mike Carden initially approached Pete Brown, his long-time colleague and friend, in 2017 about a different project and out of that meeting came the concept of doing a recording — a retrospective of CREAM music — which both Pete and Mike mutually agreed to. Pete had remained friends with Ginger Baker over the years and brought him on board. Following suit came Malcom Bruce (Jack’s son), and the gathering of the incredible talent on the album began to fall into place.
On recording this album, Malcom Bruce said, “I feel very much that in my own small way I’m carrying on a tradition that’s incredibly unique in the musical canon as it were.”
“Quarto Valley Records is honored to be releasing this all-star tribute to one of the greatest bands in rock history,” said label founder Bruce Quarto. “To have recorded this musical masterpiece with the incredible roster of musicians makes this project unbelievably special. And having worked with legends Ginger Baker, Pete Brown and Bernie Marsden truly takes it to a historical level. When you listen to this album, you can feel the passion that went into the project and hear it pouring out of every note.
